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All the lights are off, but now she’s trapped
One that stands out in my mind is our beautifully decorated tree falling over in the middle of the night with a huge CRASH. Another is watching the kids drive their new, bright and shiny go-cart around and around and around the house until a well-worn path marred my well-kept lawn. Did you ever wonder what on earth possessed you to buy certain gifts? This Christmas was a little different than most in that we didn’t have the whole morning to leisurely sip coffee and eat cinnamon rolls while we unwrapped presents. Christmas, as you know, was on Sunday, so we had to get ready for church, which started at 10:30 instead of the usual 11 a.m. Our children are old enough now that they don’t get up in the wee hours to check out what Santa left for them. Before I went to bed, I gave them a schedule for the next day: Wake-up call: 8 a.m. Open presents: 8:30-9:30. Get ready for church: 9:30-10:10. depart for church: 10:10. All went well and according to schedule. The four kids and I were in the car and ready to pull out of the driveway at exactly 10:10. But mom in her long, flowing coat was still wandering around the house making sure all the lights were off and doors locked. (That’s always the reason she’s the last in the car: “Well, I have to make sure everything’s off and all of the doors are locked. If y’all would just help, I could be on time.”) Hey, I’ve tried that, but she has to go behind me to make sure I’ve done what I said I did. It’s a woman thing I guess and I wouldn’t understand. Finally, she appeared at the door. I looked at my watch. 10:15. OK, maybe we can still make it on time. But she just stood there. And stood there. And stood there. “What is she doing?” we all asked each other. She was saying something. I rolled the window down. “My coat’s stuck in the door.” I jumped out of the car and rescued my ‘damsel in distress.’ We made it to church on time, but ever since then I’ve been wondering, would she have thought to take her coat off and get the house keys out of the car if we had not been there? In all honesty, I know she would have. My wife is a pretty shrewd woman. After all, she was smart enough to marry me. Our youngest, Abbie, said she probably would have stood there until someone came home to release her from the trap. Without a doubt, though, and as many as there are, these types of memorable moments I cherish so much don’t compare to the quality family time I get to spend with my loved ones during the holidays. Each year, like thousands of other families around the world, the Sossamons gather for food and fellowship, much as we did when I was but a child and we assembled at my grandparents’ home on College Drive. We ate and ate and ate, but I always had room for my grandmother’s chocolate cake. After her death, I figured I’d never again taste that wonderful treat, but then a few years ago at a friend’s house I sampled a piece of chocolate cake. It reminded me of Christmas at my grandparents. That cake was almost exactly like Ma-maw’s! Hearing my mother sing “Silent Night” during the Christmas Eve service Saturday took me back a few years to when she sang the same song to her little boy who was too excited about Santa coming to go to sleep. Little things spark good memories. What do you remember about Christmases past and what will you remember about this year? I’ll bet family plays a major role in most of them. And maybe long coats, falling trees and go-carts. (Cody Sossamon is publisher of The Gaffney Ledger. You can contact him via e-mail at cody@gaffneyledger.com) |
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